Chapters (82)
- Cover
- Dedication
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
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She came out of the bedroom and went downstairs. Whatever was happening in the woods would remain a mystery. She checked the front and back doors were secure and the electricity meter was topped up, then she sat on the sofa beside Tinder and rubbed his head. She’d miss him, but she couldn’t wait to leave the cottage and live in the town again, where electricity was constant and there were no strange happenings in dark woods. As soon as Camile arrived, she’d be off. She’d already begun packing and felt ready to restart her life: apply for jobs, meet old friends, maybe even have another long-term relationship. If she could meet an uncomplicated, honest guy.
Her thoughts went to Chris, who had seemed so honest and straightforward at the start. Now, she had no idea who he was or how he fitted into whatever was going on around here. She remembered the look on his and Anne’s faces when she’d come across them in the woods – guilty, almost as if they’d been caught out.
She stopped stroking Tinder and looked up. Of course! Why hadn’t she made the connection before! The woman’s voice she’d heard in the woods was Anne’s. She was sure of it. No wonder it had sounded familiar. But what the hell was she doing in the woods at night?
Grabbing her jacket and keys, Jan let herself out of the front door into the cold, misty air. Hopefully she wasn’t too late and Anne was still there. Jumping into her car, she pressed the central locking system and switched on the side lights only. They gave just enough light so she could see where she was going without being seen. She drove as fast as she could along Wood Lane to where it joined the track leading to Coleshaw Woods. She pulled over onto the bank, out of sight, then cut the engine and lights. Just in time. Headlamps on full beam appeared from the turning, flicking through the mist as the car bumped over the uneven surface. Closer and closer, growing brighter, then a small van appeared and turned into the lane heading towards Merryless. Jan couldn’t see who was driving – visibility was too poor, and the windows seemed to be tinted. But the rear number plate was lit. Jan made a note of the registration on her phone, then headed back to the cottage to report it to the police. Hopefully this was the proof that was needed to start a proper investigation.
FIFTY-SIX
Ian’s eyes slowly opened. Where the hell was he? A light on the ceiling swam in and out of focus. God, his head hurt. Had he been in a car accident? He seemed to remember driving in fog.
Then a voice close by said, ‘You’re awake.’ Anne Long came into view.